Medical Crises: Advice and Warnings for Clients

Rick A. Myer, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Director of the Center for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (http://ccip.duq.edu)

School of Education, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh , PA.

myerra@duq.edu,

(412) 396-4036

Thousands of people are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness everyday. For cancer, 3,500 new cases are diagnosed daily in the United States (American Cancer Society, 2000). Eight thousand five hundred new cases of AIDS/HIV virus are diagnosed in the world daily with approximately 110 of those being in the United States (American Association for World Health, 1999). Cardiovascular disease also falls into this category, causing death by congestive heart failure along with what is commonly called strokes, and is the leading cause of death in the United States (American Heart Association 2000, 1999). Other diseases that can be fatal include diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and liver disease, to name a few. Although some groups are more susceptible than others, these diseases strike regardless of age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status; children, adolescents, adults, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Euro-Americans, Latin-Americans, those in higher economic brackets as well as those in lower economic brackets each can and do develop these diseases. Many of these individuals need and seek help from professional human service workers in an effort to cope with and adjust to the impact the disease has on their life. If we as crisis workers are to be helpful, preparation is essential.

I believe crisis intervention in situations involving diagnosis with a life-threatening disease should include a psycho-educational component. Crisis workers can be proactive in assisting clients in managing their interactions with others as well as coping with the emotions associated with facing death. In other words, waiting for clients to broach the subject of what to say when asked about their illness results in them not being well equipped to manage the numerous problems related to being ill. Surprisingly, issues related to being besieged with questions regarding the disease, offers of assistance, and gifts can be as stressful as adjusting to the knowledge that you or a family member has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. The psycho-educational portion of the intervention should involve helping those in crisis anticipate and respond to well-meaning friends and family in their attempt to help.

This presentation describes problems associated with day-to-day interactions clients encounter after diagnosis with a life-threatening illness. These can be grouped into three overlapping categories. The first category concerns responding to others. Suddenly, conversation involving body parts not typically addressed in polite conversation become acceptable to be discussed. A second category involves receiving and accepting gifts and advice from others. Everyone seems to want to share their beliefs about radical treatments and alternative medicine. The third category concerns listening to people tell stories about the illness of family members, friends, and sometimes themselves. Naturally, everyone survived regardless of the odds. A question that is likely being thought, but not verbalized, is do you know someone who died with this disease? Building on both personal and professional experience the presentation addresses everyday predicaments faced by those who have been diagnosed with cancer and other potentially terminal diseases. Crisis workers can expect to gain practical knowledge and skills to help these people maintain appropriate distance in social relationships on a day-to-day basis.

American Cancer Society, Inc. (2000). Surveillance research. Atalanta, GA: American Cancer Society.

American Association for World Health. (1999). Resource Booklet. Washington, DC: American Association for World Health.

American Heart Association 2000. (1999). Heart and stroke statistical update. Dallas, TX.: American Heart Association.